Travel books

Riding the Iron Rooster: By train through China, Paul Theroux, kindle edition from £5.03, paperback from £7.69. Paul Theroux is my all-time, favourite travel writer. In his books he describes why he likes travel writing: ‘it’s an indirect form of autobiography’, but his prose, humour and conversations more than make up for any hint of arrogance. … Continue reading →

The Flying Troutmans, Miriam Toews (Faber, RRP£7.99): When their mother is admitted to a psychiatric ward and their somewhat unconventional Aunt Hattie returns from Paris to take care of them, Logan and Thebes feel lost, confused with the world. Hattie takes the kids – who manage the rare feat of being quirky and precocious without … Continue reading →

World Search: Amazing Jobs, Incredible Animals and Busy Places (Lonely Planet RRP: £9.99 each) World Search is a new and visually enticing children’s book series from Lonely Planet, which introduces a new generation of future travellers to the wider world around them. The three fun titles are aimed at readers aged 5 and up. They are … Continue reading →

Wild Guide: Devon, Cornwall and South West, by Daniel Start, Tania Pascoe, Joanna Keeling (Wild Things Publishing Ltd) RRP £14.99: New from the publishers of Wild Swimming, this Wild Guide book and accompanying app takes you on a voyage of discovery to the lesser-known corners of Britain’s favourite holiday region. It features ‘Famous Five-style’ outdoor … Continue reading →

In Europe: travels through the twentieth century, by Geert Mak, kindle edition from £5.03, paperback from £8.39. Geert Mak is an objective storyteller, yet this book is an almost wonderful blend of history and travel journalism rolled into one. I say almost wonderful because the subject matter of ‘Europe’ is so blatantly depressing that to read it … Continue reading →

Hitchhiking Colorado: Thumbs Up Experiences Riding With Strangers, by J.R. Commissaris (from £1.33 Kindle edition, £4.53 paperback) This book questions how we relate to strangers. Using the author’s hitchhiking experiences in Colorado, one of the USA’s most beautiful regions, it asks us if we’ve come to be driven by fear. Commissaris writes, “many Americans are just too … Continue reading →

Lonely Planet is putting some of the world’s most popular cities in your pocket this month with their all-new, full colour Pocket Guides. Each highlighting a city’s top sights and best local experiences, they are perfect for a quick city break or a business trip. The launch titles in the series for this month include some of Europe and … Continue reading →

Tom Kevill-Davies, HarperCollins: An adventurous and high-spirited travel memoir that really captures the sense of the open road, The Hungry Cyclist reveals the diverse cultures of the Americas, chronicling the author’s journey from New York, over the Rockies to Baja California, through Central America all the way down to Brazil in search of the perfect meal. … Continue reading →

Tim Butcher, Vintage, RRP £7.99 This is a captivating first hand account of an amazing journey which has had much deserving praise heaped upon it. The journey that the author takes is both brave and insane, and therefore makes for compelling reading. The author writes with passion, honesty and humour. Frustrated with the difficulties inherent in … Continue reading →

Virago Press, Jenny Diski: Despite being the winner of the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, Stranger on a Train struck me as more of an autobiography than a travel narrative (it also won the J.R. Ackerley Prize for Autobiography). You’ll find no eloquent descriptions of alluring destinations – in fact the author more or less … Continue reading →